Scented pre-moistened cleaning wipes for personal electronics

ABSTRACT

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics are LCD screen safe wet wipes infused with fragrance and packaged in packaging using with Inno-Lok® technology. The wipes are intended for use in cleaning personal electronics including cellular phones, smart phones, PDA&#39;s, laptops, computers, MP3 players, music players, digital cameras, GPS devices, video game consoles and handhelds. The wipes remove dirt and grime where germs may reside, thereby limiting exchange of debris from user and device, leaving the device refreshed with fragrance.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/007,504 filed Jul. 23, 2008, which is incorporated herein byreference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

(Not Applicable)

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX

(Not Applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a scented pre-moistened cleaningwipe, such as non-woven fabrics, for cleaning small or personalelectronics including, but not limited to, cellular phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDA's), laptops, computers, MP3players, music players, digital cameras, global positioning satellite(GPS) devices, video game consoles and handhelds.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently there exist wet wipes manufactured and sold for the purpose ofcleaning and disinfecting personal electronics. However, these wipes arenot infused or impregnated with fragrances for the purpose of refreshingthe personal electronics device after application. A citrus fragrance,for example, serves as much as a distraction to the non-pleasant ormalodor of the actual cleaning solution as it serves to leave the devicewith a refreshing and pleasant aroma for the purpose of personalizationwith fragrance.

Personal electronics wipes are manufactured and packaged in differentmanners. This includes single sachets with one wet and/or one dry wipeto use as a combination to cleanse the device. This also includespackaging in large or small canisters where wipes at the top of thecanisters can become dry and wipes at the bottom of the canister canbecome oversaturated with fluid (the latter leaves streaks on the deviceand potentially leaks liquid into the components of the device, whichcan damage it). Electronics sprays are also available with microfibercloths to clean surfaces. Wipes are also manufactured in re-sealablebins and packages with “peel-and-seal” type applications.

Scented pre-moistened cleaning wipes are already manufactured, such asfor cleaning hands. Food packaging technology incorporates re-sealablepouches with Inno-Lok® brand Technology, which utilizes a re-sealablezipper lock to ensure freshness of the product.

People who own personal electronics are faced with challenges whenchoosing how to effectively clean and refresh their devices. Therefore,it would be desirable to provide a product that could meet this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides pre-moistened wipes for personalelectronics that are minimal line or lint-free. These wipes are infusedwith any desirable fragrance, preferably sold in single use pouches orre-sealable, multi-pack pouches utilizing Inno-Lok® brand technology(zipper lock) to ensure freshness. The wipes are LCD screen safe withminimal to no streaking.

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics offer the solution to theproblem of personal electronics hygiene. The product allows consumersand owners of personal electronics to remove the dirt and grime wheregerms may reside, limiting the exchange of dirt and debris between userand device while at the same time rendering the device with thefragrance of their choice.

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics provide a singleapplication for cleansing personal electronics while also leaving thedevice refreshed with fragrance for the purpose of personalization.Scented pre-moistened cleaning wipes for personal electronics are thefirst wet wipe known to applicant to offer packaging in a re-sealablemulti-pack pouch with Inno-Lok® Technology. This technology utilizes are-sealable zipper lock to ensure freshness of the product.Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics come in any fragrance, suchas berry, melon and piña colada.

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics have been independentlytested by COLTS Laboratories (an ophthalmic lens testing lab) and havebeen approved for use on any device with an LCD or liquid crystalscreen. The product will not scratch or damage LCD screens on personalelectronics, and are the only wet wipe with the added personalization offragrance that are LCD screen tested and safe for use on personalelectronics devices.

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics are wet wipes that areimpregnated with fragrance for the purpose of refreshing the device aswell as removing dirt and grime where germs may reside without streakingor damaging the LCD screen or device itself. The advantages includeportability as they are packaged in re-sealable pouches utilizingInno-Lok® technology or single sachets or other packaging styles inmulti-packs. The advantages also include a pleasant, specific fragrancethe consumer chooses to personalize their device including, but notlimited to, cellular phones, smart phones, PDA'S, laptops, computers,MP3 players, music players, digital cameras, GPS devices, video gameconsoles and handhelds. Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics area disposable wet wipe with a pre-proportioned amount of solution thatdoes not over-saturate the wet wipe. Therefore, the wipes do not streakand they will not damage LCD screens or the device if used properly.

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics are the answer to cellphone and personal electronics hygiene problems with the added sensualcomponent of fragrance. Recent media coverage and professional studieshave made clear that personal electronics are dirtier than a publictoilet seat or a bottom of a shoe, which can lead to external andinternal disease(s). Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics removethe dirt and grime where germs may reside, limiting the exchange ofdebris between user and device while leaving behind a refreshingfragrance of the consumer's choice. These wipes encourage frequentcleansing of personal electronics because the added fragrance componentis pleasant and not malodorous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an electronic device and a wipeaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a table containing data for the preferred wipe according tothe present invention.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which isillustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted tofor the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the inventionbe limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understoodthat each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operatein a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, theword connected or term similar thereto are often used. They are notlimited to direct connection, but include connection through otherelements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent bythose skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics are shown in FIG. 1including a wet wipe 10 with fragrance added to the moistened wipe. Theintended use of the wipe 10 is to cleanse personal electronicsincluding, but not limited to, cellular phones, such as the phone 20. Ofcourse, the wipe 10 can alternatively be used to clean smart phones,PDA's, laptops, computers, MP3 players, music players, digital cameras,GPS devices, video game consoles and handhelds.

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics are manufactured at a wipesmanufacturing plant on large machines that are designed to mass producewet wipes. The wipes are made in a conventional manner, but thedifferences and benefits of the invention include the addition offragrance to the cleaning solution, the packaging utilizing a zipperlocking mechanism, the single application use, the lint-free non-wovenpolypropylene fabric, and the laboratory testing deeming this productsafe for use on LCD screens.

Pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics may use different packagingdesigns, but the addition of fragrance, the non-woven lint-free fabricand laboratory testing will continue to set this invention apart fromolder products that do not compare on all these levels. Pre-moistenedwipes for personal electronics wipes are composed of a screen cleaningsolution and fragrance component (at 1.5% of the total solution). Notein FIG. 2 the ingredients of the pre-moistened wipes is a combination offragrance and cleaning solution.

Inno-Lok® brand transverse pre-zippered film runs at the same speed asstandard, non-zippered film. Inno-Lok® (zipper pre-applied to film) canrun 15% faster than In-Line or On-Line Transverse System and up to 30%faster than On-Line non-transverse system.

Inno-lok® can save up to 50% in zipper material, the length of thezipper is not determined by the width of the package or the size of theproduct. The zipper is typically attached only to the front wall ofpackage instead of opposing walls as in the prior art.

Whereas conventional in-line zipper packages require added packagelength below the zipper for product head space (up to 2.0″), theInno-lok® product saves up to 15% in packaging material. This is becausethe front panel zipper requires no additional package length for producthead space, thereby saving up to an inch or more of film in eachpackage.

Whereas, systems using in-line or on-line zipper application can causeas much as 20% scrap and waste due to zipper sealing problems andmachine set-up waste, Inno-lok® saves up to 20% in lost scrap. This isbecause the zipper application apparatus requires 2 times as much filmfor machine thread-up. Furthermore, machine adjustments or roll changesresult in additional scrap. Returning to a non-zippered package alsocauses additional scrap.

With Inno-Lok® pre-zippered film, the zipper is pre-applied to the filmprior to running in form, fill and seal machine, resulting in noadditional scrap or waste.

In-line or on-line systems require separate zipper and bag materialrolls, which require roll changes at different times—resulting inadditional down time and additional scrap due to butt rolls of zipper orpackaging film. Inno-lok® saves down time because fewer roll changes arenecessary due to Inno-Lok® using a single roll of material.

Rolls of pre-zippered film, unlike in-line or on-line zipper applicatorsystems, provide the converter another inspection point before productis shipped to the processor. Therefore, Inno-lok® achieves a betterquality package. The form, fill, and seal machine operators have moretime to pay attention to quality related concerns since they are notrequired to operate a more complex in-line or on-line system.

Inno-Lok® reduces zipper failures, because the front panel zipper isnever under stress from the product. This configuration also provides aunique appearance and functionality of packages.

Other re-closeable packaging methods (such as In-Line or On-LineTransverse System and On-Line Non-Transverse System) require cutting,positioning, placing and heat sealing in-line, which are difficult andcomplex, especially in hostile environments. In-Line or On-LineTransverse System and On-Line Non-Transverse System slows productionrates as much as 15%. On-Line Non-Transverse System requires sealingthrough a thicker zipper profile, causing up to 30% reduction inproduction rates.

Thus, pre-moistened wipes for personal electronics are the onlyfragrance-infused wet wipe known to applicant that is intended for useon personal electronics to refresh the device and provide maximum scenttransfer after application. The fragrance component is added to providea pleasant scent after use. It is preferred that the percent fragrancein the invention is higher than in the prior art to ensure scenttransfer to the device while cleaning the device. The invention has beentested safe for use on electronic devices with LCD screens.

The packaging of the invention, which is preferably plastic, waterproofpaper or other material that ensures freshness and correct saturation ofthe product solution in each wipe, and preferably prevents, or at leastreduces, evaporation of the product solution. This is accomplished bymaintaining that the zipper lock prevents fluid body weight loss of thefragranced solution. Therefore, the wipes have an extended shelf life,and extended post-opening life versus peel-and-seal applications ofother types of wet wipes. Therefore they are re-sealable and portable inthe multi-wipe package.

This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intendedprincipally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in whichthe present invention may be constructed or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementingthe invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is tobe understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions andfeatures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are alsointended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the inventionand that various modifications may be adopted without departing from theinvention or scope of the following claims.

1. A flexible, absorbent, disposable wipe in a re-closable package thatprevents substantial evaporation of a liquid absorbed in the wipe thatprovides a cleaning solution that will not damage liquid crystaldisplays and has a human-perceivable scent.